Today we are graced with the presence of Grace and her author April Smith. Grace is from Loving Grace which I reviewed last month.

Grace, thank you for joining us today. I’m excited to get to know both of you better.

What is your favorite beverage and dessert?

Coffee…at least it became my favorite once I was crowned the watermelon queen. Early days and long nights of promotions make a girl need her caffeine, but there’s the watermelon juice too. It’s so good. Love that stuff.

For dessert? A scoop of mint chocolate chip ice-cream. Hands down the best dessert ever. Unless it’s two scoops. You can’t go wrong with two scoops!

Ooh! Mint chocolate chip ice cream is so good.

What are your hobbies?

Looking through old scrapbooks, going swimming, and canning jelly. Blackberry jelly is my favorite to make. I used to make it with my mom and grandma, but now it’s just me and Gramps who keep the canning tradition alive.

I was sorry to hear about your family. I can see how special those activities that keep you remembering them would be.

Do you have a hidden talent?

I have a pretty good memory which really helps when I meet new people as the watermelon queen. At least I can remember their names.

As far as I’m concerned, that is almost a super-power!

What kind of books do you like to read? Do you have a favorite book or author (other than the Bible)?

I’m more of a magazine kind of girl. And right now with the farm and all of the traveling with promotions there hasn’t been much time to read.

Ha! I can see how you wouldn’t have a lot of time to just relax.

Thank you so much for your time.

Now, I have a few questions for April.

It appears that Loving Grace is the first book you wrote. Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would do differently as you set about on this journey?

There isn’t really anything I’d change thus far in the journey. But some advice I would give anyone wanting to write is practice, practice, practice.

That sounds like great advice.

What inspired you to write in general and to write Loving Grace specifically?

I love stories. And more importantly, I love to tell them. The inspiration comes from my time working on my best friend’s family watermelon farm. While it was hard work, it holds a lot of fun summer memories, so I wanted Grace’s story to take place in the world of watermelons.

I’m so glad you took the time to write this one. I loved getting to know Grace’s story!

What are you writing right now?

I’m working on a couple projects right now both of which are YA contemporary. The first is also set in the watermelon world. The other is about a boy and a girl who have to work together in order to achieve their separate, but equally important goals.

Thank you, April. I’m looking forward to reading more books by you in the future.

Synopsis:

Grace Summer lands herself in a melon load of trouble when she becomes torn between the boy of her dreams and the boy almost next door. As the newly-crowned Watermelon Queen, she is thrust into the spotlight, meets the dreamy Warren Hartley, and continues trying to get over an accident that rocked her world. Mix in working with Beau Baron who Grace happens to fight with just about as much as breathing and the metaphorical sparks fly.Like most things in life, Grace must learn to take the good with the bad. While the good is the handsome and fun Warren Hartley, the bad is Beau Baron—or at least being around his annoying and rude self way more than she would like. For Beau, Grace is nothing more than aggravating and an irritating reminder from the night of the accident. Tensions soar as Grace and Beau fight to love themselves and maybe, just maybe, each other.

I would like to thank Ambassador International for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.

April Smith’s The Farm Pinterest Board

About April Smith

April Smith grew up spending summers working on her best friend’s family watermelon farm and she was one of those watermelon queens she writes about. She has her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in the Art of Teaching.

Giveaway

Ambassador International is giving away: (1) JustRead Summer Fun Book Box, which features Loving Grace as well as at least 4 quality items which complement the story. Find out more here.

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight July 16, 2018 and last through 11:59pm July 23, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

About April Smith

April Smith grew up spending summers working on her best friend’s family watermelon farm and she was one of those watermelon queens she writes about. She has her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in the Art of Teaching.